THREE community groups for the over-60s have made their own film trailers and posters as part of a project with Queen's Film Theatre in Belfast.

The Link, Words Alive and Voices Women's Group worked with author Jan Carson, filmmaker Joanne Barnett and artist Jonathan Brennan to create their own trailers and posters based on their memories of film.

Supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency and the Baring Foundation, the project aimed to challenge perceptions of what it means to be an older person. It also offered opportunities for older people to actively engage in the arts.

Marion Campbell, learning co-ordinator at the QFT, said the groups had been "inspirational".

"The benefits of how engaging with the arts improves well-being for people of all ages should not be underestimated, and for some can be a real life-line," she said.

Ms Carson said she had been thrilled by how the project had improved the older people's confidence.

"As is often the case with community arts projects, people were quite shy and restrained during the first session, and several participants said they'd be hesitant about taking part in the filmmaking," she said.

"It was incredible to see two of the less confident participants really throw themselves into the film making session, discovering that they both thoroughly enjoyed the experience and had a natural aptitude for performing in front of the camera."

For more details on the Arts Council's Arts & Older People Programme visit www.artscouncil-ni.org